Dogs

Perth Cup Runner by Runner Preview

Posted on | Posted by David Shortte

TROUPER MONELLI: Consistent local who came from this box last week when winning his heat by nearly five lengths in 29.93. Can be a little hit and miss at box rise but generally loves wearing red having had 5 tries from this box for 3 wins and a placing. Has a personal best of 29.66 and if he was able to run up to that would definitely be capable of figuring in the finish. So much will come down to how far back he gets in the run to the first corner. There are a lot of fast beginners drawn outside of him but at his best he could burrow up and sit handy. Is definitely one to include for the Trifectas and First Fours from this box.

STRIKER LIGHT: Prolific winner (53 starts for 25 wins and 16 placings) who was very good at her first look here last week when she was able to sit on the leader Slingshot Gypsy before powering away from it in the concluding stages to win by 3.5 lengths in a time of 29.87. Is clearly plenty of improvement in her off that first run at this venue and only three runs ago was defeated by a narrow margin in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg Final behind Up Hill Jill at Wentworth Park. She is a proven big race performer and comes into this event as one of the key fancies. Will need to trim up her first split time from last week but on previous form is certainly capable of doing so.

HECTON BALE: His record of 30 starts for 14 wins and 9 placings speaks for itself. He is a super strong canine who took out the Group 1 Australian Cup at the Meadows back in March. Not a great beginner but in a race with plenty of top end speed should be able to roll down to the fence and get a nice tow into it down the back straight. Turning for home he is sure to be the greyhound eating up the ground at a healthy rate. If there is a bit of bumping and grinding going on up front Hecton Bale is a dog who could be all over the top of them in the concluding stages. Sat handy in his heat and was far too strong defeating Mandjoogoordap by nearly 5 lengths in 29.70. Will be back early but with an ounce of luck can be swooping right into it at the business end of proceedings. Each way prospects look solid.

UP HILL JILL: Speedy bitch who won the Group 1 Golden Easter Final at Wentworth Park three starts ago and was ultra-impressive in her heat last week leading throughout to win by more than 4 lengths in 29.60 which was the second quickest time of the night. On most occasions dogs improve for their first look at a track and if she does that it is frightening to think what sort of time she might run. Her career record of 69 starts for 37 wins and 24 placings is phenomenal and from this box she has had 8 tries for 5 wins and 2 placings. Knows how to win the big feature events and with a safe getaway looms as the dog they all have to beat.

ALPHA GEORGIOU: Talented Victorian who has won 20 of his 44 starts and came from box four last week when he sat camped on Vanderworp who he picked up in the concluding stages. His early split of 5.54 was only the sixth best and his overall time of 30.11 was clearly the slowest of the heat winners. Box four does him no favours and while he is a smart chaser this looks a very tough assignment. One of the roughies of the field.

COME ON EMMALINE: Was having just her 12th career start last week when she shot to the top and led throughout to win her heat in 29.82. Moves from box 2 to box 6 for the final but did run the fastest first split of 5.43 and if she can repeat that early zip she can put herself right on top of the speed. Whether or not she can cross the speed drawn inside is debatable but off her heat run last week you can make a case to include her in your thoughts at double figure odds. Clearly is very talented but is giving away a fair bit of experience to the majority of this field and that may prove a key factor.

BLACK BOMBSHELL: Quality WA sprinter who sat second in his heat before finishing well to run down Max Profit in 29.88. His early split of 5.48 was the fourth best so he can certainly put himself into a dangerous spot early. The biggest issue may well be the draw. He has had 5 starts from this box for just one victory and the stats show he much prefers being drawn down closer to the fence. Runs into some stellar opposition here and is likely to need plenty of luck through the first corner. Will be at a big price.

WEST ON AUGIE: One of the most exciting chasers WA have produced in recent times. Has exploded through the lower grade races and put together a great record of 20 starts for 14 wins and a placing. Was the fastest qualifier through the heats running splits of 5.45 and 18.31 before stopping the clock in a slashing 29.55 winning by nearly 10 lengths. To this point of his career has predominantly been a dog that needs to lead clearly to win and on a couple of occasions in top grade locally when he has been pressured with early speed around him he has come up a little short. This is a race that maps with that early pressure to be boiling hot. Quite simply if he crosses and leads I think he will win – if he cannot get over then his task becomes herculean. I am a huge fan of this fellow but I think the early pressure in this crack field has the potential to cause him some headaches.

RESERVES

9 – ASTROZONE (RESERVE 1): Marvellous campaigner who has won 20 of his 43 starts at this track. Was a gallant second in his heat behind Come On Emmaline in 29.87 and has the ability to be very competitive in this race should he gain a start. Did win off box one here two starts ago in a slick 29.57 and if he was to come up with an inside box would be an each way hope.

10 – BENALI (RESERVE 2): Up and coming Big V sprinter who has had two runs here in WA for runner-up efforts behind West On Augie and Up Hill Jill in the times of 29.66 and 29.90. Came from fourth in his heat and was making up good late ground when beaten a tick over 4 lengths behind Up Hill Jill. Would be best served by a middle to wide draw if he was to gain a start.

SELECTIONS

4 – Up Hill Jill
3 – Hecton Bale
2 – Striker Light
8 – West On Augie




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